Hole in roof ignored for years at Spokane VA hospital

An investigation into conditions at a VA hospital in Spokane, Wash., revealed a hole in the roof that the staff had been ignoring for years, according to an article on the Spokesman-Review website.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers demanded the investigation based on complaints from veterans.

The hole apparently has been leaking water for about five years, according to the article. McMorris Rodgers said VA staff has known about the problem, evidenced by the fact that someone had built a rectangular funnel to catch water dripping through the roof. The funnel channels water through a hose into a metal bucket.

The make-shift-leak-management system is located only feet from hospital’s large electrical panel that fuels power to the entire facility.